Cigarette retaining means



Nov. H, 1958 5.1a. WILLIAMS CIGARETTE RETAINING MEANS Fild July 5, 19572 Sheets-Sheet l I Fig. 5

Barb ey B. W/YII'ams INVENTOR.

BY arr/#4404 19m Nov. 111, 1958 B. B. WILLIAMS 2,859,865

CIGARETTE RETAINING MEANS Filed July 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 2 F 6F/g.3 u 28 g '26 as Q 32 a a f 24 v 28 I! l4 //6 Fly. 8

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24 26 24 Fly. 4 7 I4 42 I j F Barney B. Williams INV.ENTOR.

I I i I I l Auarnq's United States Patent CIGARETTE RETAINlN G MEANSBarney B. Williams, Albany, Ga.

Application July 5, 1957, Serial No. 670,033

7 Claims. (Cl. 20641) This invention relates in general to new anduseful improvements in cigarette packages, and more specifically to acigarette package which has disposed therein a member which both servesto retain the cigarettes in place and to protect such cigarettes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combined retaining andprotecting member for cigarettes, the member being of such configurationand size whereby it may be mounted in existing types of cigarettes and,while properly retaining the cigarettes in the package and protectingthe cigarettes, will permit the ease of removal of a cigarette. Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a cigarette package reinforcingmember, the reinforcing member being in the form of a strip which isformed of rigid and resilient material, the strip being generallyrectangular in outline and including a top which is bendable so as tofacilitate the removal of a cigarette.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combined retainingand protective member for cigarette packages, the member being in theform of a generally rectangular outline strip and including a top havingone end free, the top being provided with an upwardly projecting bulgeintermediate the ends thereof, the bulge being depressible so as tocause upward flexing of the free end of the top and facilitate theremoval of a cigarette from a package. 7

These, together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent, reside in the details 7 of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette package which has beenopened, the cigarette package being provided with the combined retainingand protective member which is the subject of this invention, the memberbeing shown in a flexed state to permit the removal of a cigarette;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through theupper part of the cigarette package of Figure 1 along the section line22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the cigarette package ofFigure 1 with a majority thereof shown in section, the top of the memberbeing shown in a flexed state;

Figure 4 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 4--4 of Figure 3 and showsfurther the arrangement of the combined retaining and protective memberwithin the cigarette package; and 7 Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 are enlargedfragmentary perspective views showing the upper portion of the modifiedcombined retaining and protective members and shows modified forms ofbulges to facilitate the flexing of the tops thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated a cigarette package which is referred to in general by thereference numeral 10. The

2,859,865 Patented Nov. 11, 1958 includes an inner container 12, anouter container 14,

and a cellophane wrapping 16. Disposed within the cigarette package 10and reinforcing the containers 12 and 14 is the combined retaining andprotective member which is the subject of this invention, the memberbeing referred to in general by the reference numeral 18.

As is best shown in Figure 5, the combined retaining and protectivemember 18 includes a base 20 which has extending upwardly from oppositeends thereof and formed integrally therewith sides 22 and 24. Formedintegrally with the upper end of the side 24 and extending in overlyingrelation with respect to the'base 20 is a top 26. The top 26 has the endthereof remote from the side wall 24 free and is provided with adepending flange 28. When the combined retaining and protective member18 is disposed withinthe cigarette package 10, the flange 28 overlapsthe upper end of the side 22, as is best shown in Figure 3.

It is also to be noted that theupper end of the side 22 is tapered as at30.

In order to facilitate the upward flexing of that part of the top 26remote from theside 24, the top 26 is provided with an upwardlyprojecting bulge 32 disposed intermediate the ends thereof. The bulge 32is circular in outline and extends substantially all the way across thetop 26. i a

As is best shown in Figures 3 and 5, the combined retaining andprotective member 18 is generally rectangular in outline. Also, themember 18 is formed of a single elongated strip which is preferablyformed from a relatively rigid and resilient material.

In Figuresl and 2, the cigarette package 10 is show in its normal openstate whereby accessv to the cigarettes 34 disposedtherein may normallybe had. However, the cigarettes 34 are protected by the combinedretaining and protective member 18 and 'are' retained in place withinthe package 10 by means of the member 18.

When it is desired to remove cigarettes 34 from the package 10, onegrasps the cigarette package 10 in the manner shown in Figure l with theforefinger engaging the bulge 32. The bulge 32, when depressed, resultsin the upward flexing of the free end of the top 26, as is best shown inFigure 2. At this time, access to certain of the cigarettes 34 isfacilitated. When the bulge 32 is released, the top 26 will resume itsnormal position and thus again serve to protect and retain thecigarettes 34 within the package 10.

It is to be understood that the combined retaining and protective member18 is of a size and shape so as to be readily insertable in existingcigarette packages. Thus, the use of the present invention does notrequire special packages or special equipment other than that necessaryto place the member 18 within the package.

Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that the top 26is provided with a modified form of bulge 36. The bulge 36 is generallyrectangular in outline. Like the bulge 32, the bulge 36. extendssubstantially entirely across the top 26. f Referring now to Figure 7 inparticular, it will be seen that the top 26 is provided with amodifiedform of bulge 38. The bulge 38 is similar to the bulge 36 inthat it is square in outline. The bulge 38 functions the same as thebulge 32 in facilitating the bending or flexing of the top 26.

Referring now to Figure 8 in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated still another modified form of bulge 40. The top wall 26 isprovided with a triangular outline bulge 40. The bulge 40 extendssubstantially entirely across the top 26 and facilitates the flexing ofthe top 26.

In Figure 9 there is illustrated a final modified form of outlines ofbulges may be .used,; although thelbulges illus trated and described arefound to be-the most lefiecti've ones. t a

The foregoing 'is cqnsidered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. ;F urther,,rsi nce numerous modifications and changeswill ,readilybccurt'o ,th'se' skilled in the arh'it is not,desired.,to,'limit the invention to the exact cpnstructionand operation,shownand [described and aceordingly all suitable .modifications andequivalents maybe resorted tofallingwithin the scope :of he i t n sasaimfia 7 What is claimedas newis as follows:

'1. A retaining and protective.membertfor cigarette packages, saidmember being in the formof an elongated strip formed of arelativelyrigid and resilienttmaterial, said strip being generally rectangular inoutline and including a base and upstanding sides integrallyt connectedto said base at opposite ends thereof, ,atopintegrally connectedto oneof said Sides ,atthe-upperend thereof, the opposite end of said topterminating adjacent the .upper end of the other :of said sides, saidtopincluding-an upwardly directed bulge intermediate the ends thereof,said bulge extending substantially-entirely acrosssaid top whereby, whensaid bulge is depressed, said opposite end of said top bows upwardlyaway from said other side.

2. A retaining and protective member vfor cigarette packages, saidmember being in the form of an elongated strip formed of arelativelyrigid and resilient material,- said strip being generally rectangular inoutline and including a base and upstanding sides integrally connectedto said base at opposite ends thereof, a top integrally connected to oneof said sides at the upper end thereof, the oppositeend of said topterminating adjacent the upper end of the other of said sides, said topincludingan upwardly directed bulge intermediate the ends thereof, saidbulge extending substantially entirely across said ,top whereby, whensaid bulge is depressed, said opposite end of said top bows upwardlyaway from said other side, said bulge being generally circular inoutline. 3. A retaining and protective member for cigarette packages,said member being in the form of anelongated strip formed of arelatively rigid and resilient material, said strip being generallyrectangular in outline and 'including a base and upstanding sidesintegrally connected to said base at opposite ends thereof, a topintegrally connected to one of said sides at the upper end thereof, theopposite end of said top terminating adjacent ,the .upper end of theother of said sides, said .top includingan upwardly directed bulgeintermediate the ends thereof, said bulge extending substantiallyentirely across .said top whereby, when said bulge -is depressed,saidopposite end ofssaid top bows upwardly away from said otherside,said bulge being semi-circular in outline. I 7

4. A retaining and protective member for cigarette packages, said memberbeing in'the form of anelqngated strip formed of a relatively rigid andresilient material, said strip being generally rectangular in outlinean'd'in eluding a base and upstanding sides integrally connected to saidbase at opposite ends thereof, a top integrally connected to one of saidsides at the upper end thereof, the opposite end of said top terminatingadjacent the upper end of the other of said sides, said top including anupwardly directed bulge intermediate the ends thereof, saidbulgeextending substantially entirely-across said top whereby, when saidbulge is depressed, said opposite end of said top bows upwardly awayfrom saidother side, said bulge being circular in outline.

5. A retaining and protective member for cigarette packages, said memberbeingin=the form of an elongated strip formed of a relatively rigid andresilient material, said strip being generally rectangular in outlineand including a base and upstanding sides integrally connected to saidbase at opposite ends .thereof, atop integrally connected to one of saidsides at the .nppenendthereof, the opposite end of said top terminatingadjacent the upper end of the other of said sides, said top including anupwardly directed bulge intermediate the ends thereof, said bulgeextending substantially entirely across :said top whereby, whensaidbulge is depressed,-said,opposite end of said top bows upwardly awayfrom said other side, said qb ulge being rectangular in outline.

6. A ;retaining and protective member for cigarette packages,said-memberbeing inztheformof an elongated strip formed of a relativelyrigid and resilient material, saidgstrip being generally rectangular inoutline and inllldfligafibflsefand;upstanding sides integrally connectedsaidj bascza't opposite ends thereof, a top integrally connected tooneofsaid sides at the upper end thereof, the opposite .end of said topterminating adjacent the upper end of the other .of said sides, said topincluding an supwardly directed bulge intermediate the "ends thereof,said bulge extending substantially entirely across-said topwhereby,'when said bulge is depressed, saidopposite end ofsaid top bowsupwardly away from said other side, said bulge being square in outline.

7.,A retaining and protective member for cigarette packages, said memberbeing in the form of an elongated stripform'ed of a relatively rigid andresilient mat er'al, said strip being generallyrectangular inoutline-and11n eluding a base and upstanding sides integrally connectedto said base at opposite endsthereof, a topintegrallycori: nectd'to oneor said sides at the upper end thereof, the opposite end of saidterminating adjaeent'jt hie uppefiend ofthe other. of sa'idsides, saidtop inclnding' an upwardly directed bulge finterm diate the ends thereof, -s'aid1bulge extending snbstantially entirely across id top'wliereby, when said'bulge is dtipressed saidoppo te end of said topbows upwardly away from said other side, said bulge being triangular inoutline.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS L ta

